Effectiveness of Information Literacy Workshops: An Experimental Study

پژوهش نامه مبانی تعلیم و تربیت

Article 4, Volume 05, Issue 2, October 2004

Document Type: پژوهشی

DOI: 10.22067/fe.v5i2.1995

Author

Mehri Parirokh^*

Abstract

Information literacy is now considered as power and the capability to compete with others. However, it is not clear to what extent users of the library of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) need information literacy skills, what skills they should be taught in information literacy workshops and what features such workshops should have. To answer these questions, an experimental research was carried out at FUM. The population of this research consisted of post-graduate students who are studying in Humanities and Social Sciences faculties. According to Kohen table, and based on stratified sampling, forty postgraduate students formed the sample of this experimental research. Although more than this number were volunteers for participating in this research and attending the related workshop, thirty-three had the necessary requirements. Data were collected through 1) a questionnaire, which was based on the standards of information literacy and researcher's experience, 2) observation of participants' behavior in performing their exercises during the workshop, 3) and a focus group interview. The questionnaire was used both in pre-test and post-test. In order to investigate the effectiveness of learning outcomes, the focus group was arranged 3 month after the workshop and post-test. The analysis of the information gathered reveals that almost all of the students participated in this research needed the information literacy skills. There was significant difference between their information literacy skills before the workshop and after it.
Keywords: Information literacy, workshops, effectiveness, teaching methods, learning outcomes